Tractor connection for agricultural implements



i. TRGLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS zinal FiledJuly 17, 1918 10 She ets-Sheet 1 may QM m W W MM km a \w j m nw I I IrMN N w QN H M m RN 0 I mfl i W m N. K i w a A Km wn hm 1 a \m N J NW,27, T923. LMEZS I. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURALIMPLEMENTS Original Filed July 17, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y5Nov. 27 1923.

l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS l0Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 17, 1918 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 27,1923.

I. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original FiledJuly 17, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet' 4 A TTORNEKS Nova 27, 1923.

l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original FiledJuly 17, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR And/mm Nov. 27, 1923.

l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS l0Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed July 17, 1918 Nov. 27 1923.

l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original FiledJuly 17,

1918 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 lNl/E/VTUR Jazz ,ZW ATTORNEY-9 Nov. 27, 1923.

Original Filed July 17, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 N, aw

A TTORIVEYS Nov. 27 1923.

l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original FiledJuly 17, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 VENTOR due 7 BY @fl ATTORNEYJ 1,475,208Nov. 27, 1923. I L TRQLLEY TRACTORCONNECTiON FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMEHTSOriginal Filed July 11, 1918 10 sheets-sheet 1o [N 1/5 N TOR zen of theUnited States, residing at 'Poiiglr.

Patented Nov. 2?, 1%23.

ISAAC TBOLLEY, 0F POUGHKEEESIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO MOLINE PLOW COMPANY, ({0R3PORATION OF VIRGINIA.

INCORPORATED, 0F MOLINE, ILLINOIS A TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURALIMPLEMENTS.

" 'nal application filed July 17, 1918, Serial No.

245,410. Divided and this application filed July 28,

1919. Serial No. 313,706.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Isaac TROLLEY, a citikeepsie, in the county ofDutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tractor Connections for Agricultural Implements, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to tractor connections for agriculturalimplements.

It is particularly directed to that feature of the connections by meansof which a binder may not only be connected tothe tractor in operativeposition but may also be readily connected in transport position.

The tractor herein disclosed and to which my improvements are peculiarlyapplicable, consists of a power unit supported by two power driventractor wheels, and having a rearwardly extending beam or frame member,which latter is supported so as to preserve the horizontal equilibriumof the power unit, by means of a supporting truck capable of certainlimited movements relative to the power unit, the draft of the powerunit being applied to the truck. and through the medium of the truck,applied to the implement to be. hauled. The control of the tractor bythe driver is effected from the usual drivers seat on the implement .bymeans of appropriate controlling devices supported by the implement, andfrom which suitable operating rods extend forwardly to the mechanism ofthe tractor, the said controlling levers and devices being detachablefrom the implement and being applied to the tractor and operated by thedriver from a seat on the tractor, when the implement is connected tothe tractor for transportation, or when the tractor is disconnected fromthe implement and used independently thereof. 1

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a tractor and thestubble end of a grain binder, showing the two connected in accordancewith my invention for operation in the field.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in a different position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3 with certainparts removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional plan view on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the parts in a different position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the binder connected with thetractor for transportation.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale partly in section,showing the. connection of the tractor with the binder when the latteris transported by the tractor.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 11 isa fragmentary sectional perspective view showing one of thelatches for holding the connecting frame in place on the grain platform.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line 12-42 of Fig. 9 of one ofthe side frames showing particularly the construc tion of the catch 69illustrated in plan in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings:

Referring particularly to F 1 to S, 3 indicates a tractor consisting ofa power unit l and a supporting truck 2. The power unit is operatedpreferably by a'gas engine mounted in a frame l supported by two poweroperated traction wheels 1*, extending from which frame is a horizontalbeam or frame liar 1. the forward end of which is in the form of a yokel pivoted to the frame 1, on a vertical axis so that the frame niayswing horizontally relatively to the beam. Carried by the beam is ahorizontal rotary pinion 3 which meshes with a horizontal rack st fixedto the frame 1 and curved from a center coincident with the axis of theyoke, the rotation of the pinion, assuming that the beam is held againstlateral motion, causing the frame 1 and parts of the power unit carriedthereby to turn relatively to the beam, by which means the guiding ofthe tractor is eff eoted. The pinion is operated by an operating'shaft 5suitably geared to the pinion as at 6 and extending rearwardly withinreach of the driver, as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The supporting truck 2 extends beneath the beam 1 and supports the same,thereby preserving the horizontal equilibrium of the power unit. Thistruck is in the form of two upright open rectangular frames 2 connectedtogether side by side in fixed spaced relations, and constituting aunitary frame structure with spaced upper and lower horizontal bars 2and 2, and spaced front and rear vertical bars 2 and 2 The upper bars 2"have fixed between them at the front and rear, horizontal longitudinallyextending supporting pins 9 mounted in cross plates 9 fixed between thebars, upon which pins are respectively mounted so as to rock and slidethereon, the lower ends of two arms lOand 1O depending from the beam 1respectively at itsfront and rear. By this means the truck frame iscapable of a limited motion relative to the beam both in a fore and aftdirection, and about a fore and aft axis, as .will be more particularlydescribed hereinafter. The rear end of the truck frame is supported fromthe ground by two truck wheels 11 journaled on a horizontal axle 12carried in a yoke or frame 13 pivoted on a vertical axis as at 14: to ahanger strap 15 connected'fixedly to the lower ends of the rear verticalbars 2 of the truck frame. The outer extremities of the axle are formedwith vertical holes in which extend the rear downwardly turned ends oftwo fore and aft rods 16 whose forward ends are pivoted on vertical axesas at 18 to a hanger bracket 17 fixed to the frame 1 of the power unit,the pivotal connection of the rods with the bracket being on oppositesides of the axis of the yoke 1 As a. result of this construction andarrangement, when the frame of the power unit is turned relative to thebeam 1 in steering the tractor, the truck wheels Willjbe swiveled orturned in the same direction as shown in Fig. 7, therebyefiecting aquick and short turn of the machine.-

The draft of the power unit is transmitted to the truck by means of adraft rod or link 18 having its rear end turned downwardly and enteredloosely in a hole in a horizontal bracket plate 19 fixed between thelower horizontal bars 2 of the truck frame at the front. This draft rodextends forwardly and is pivoted by means of a vertical pivot pin to aclevi s 20, which in turn is pivotally connected by means of ahorizontal pivot pin to the lower end of a draft arm 21 depending fromthe yoke 1.

To adapt the tractor for connection with certain forms of farmimplements, for instance a grain binder 22 as shown in the accompanyingdrawings to pull the same through the field for operation on the grain,a draft member in the form of a stub tongue -ments will be reversed, thelever bein aeraaoe 23 is provided which is pivoted at its forward end bymeans of a horizontal pivot bolt 24 between the two front vertical bars2 of the truck frame near the lower ends of said bars, the said tongueextending rearwardly between the rear bars of the truck frame and beyondthe same where it is connected pivotally by means of a horizontal pivotpin 25 with the frame of the binder in a manner similar to theconnection of the usual draft tongue therewith. In connection with thisdraft member or stub tongue as the means for applying the draft of thetractor to the binder frame, I employ two side draft bars 26 whoseforward ends are pivoted to the truck frame on the pivot bolt 24 beforealluded to, and which draft bars diverge rearwardly and have their rearends widely separated and pivotally connected by horizontal pivot pins27 respectively between two pairs of ears 28 on the binder frame, theaxes of the pivot pins '27 and the pivot pin 25 being in horizontalcoincidence as shown more particularly in Fig. 6. Due to this pivotalconnection of the binder frame with the truck frame, the binder frameand consequently the grain platform may be rocked or tilted about thetransverse axes of the bull and grain wheels, which tilting action willbe in relation to the tractor and will raise and lower the cutter bar22. In other words, I provide a flexible or articulated connectionbetween the tractor and binder frame so that the height of the cutterbar may be adjusted from the ground to vary the point of attack on thegrain, and also so that the weight will not be and down-drag of thetractor imposed on the binder.

The adjustment of the binder frame relative to the tractor is effectedby the usual platform adjusting member 28, (Figs. 1 and 3) pivoted nearits lower end on a horizontal axis as at 29 to a fixed part of thebinder frame alongside a segment frame 30 fixed to the elevator frame atits front, the lever being provided with the usual locking latch (notshown) 'to engage between the teeth of the segment frame and therebyhold the lever and connected parts in their different adjustedpositions. The lower extremity of the lever is pivoted to the upper endsof two upright links 31 extending at their lower ends on opposite sidesof the stub tongue 23 near its rear end and pivotally connected theretoby a. horizontal pivot bolt 32. By ushing the lever for wardly, thebinder rame will be tilted on the axes of the bull and grain wheels,which will raise the front of the platform and cutter bar, the stubtongue in this action moving upwardly with the connected parts; and bypulling the lever rearwardly these moveretained in its adjusted positionby Ice extended downwardly around an the same to the segment frame.These adjustments as before stated. are in relation to the tractor, theentire weight of the same [being borne conjointly by the front tractionwheels 1" and the rear truck wheels 11, and

by reason of the pivotal connection of the binder with the tractor,which allows the two to move up and down relatively to each other inpassing over uneven ground, such weight is not imposed on the binderframe, the latter as it trails behind the tractor, being subject only tothe draft pull of the power unit exerted through. the truck.

The control of the tractor mechanism by the driver is effected from theusual drivers seat 33 on the binder frame by control devices in the formoflevers 34,35 and 36 for controlling the clutch, gear shaft, and gas,and .the hand wheel 37 connected with an extension 5 of the shaft 5before alluded port is readily detachable from the bracket plate. Theends of the bracket late are beneath the edges of a fixed guide plate-41by which means the support carryingv the control levers is capable of asliding movement relative to the binder frame in a fore and aftdirection, the purpose of which will presently appear. The guide plate41 is sustained, fixedly in position in front of the drivers seatbymeans of a standard42 extending upwardly from the fixed seat pipe 43and is fixedly braced from the binder frame by suitable brace rods. Thebase plate 38 of the support. 38 has projecting upwardl from it a fixedstud 44 .(see (Fig. 4) on which is loosely mounted a collar 45 providedwith pins 46 projecting outwardly therefrom, which pins extend looselythrough a yoke 47 on the rear end of a rod or link 48, whereby a gimbalor-universal joint is formed between the link. and-the supportin frame38. The link has its forward en connected in a like manner to a plate-49(see Fig. 2) seated on the beam 1' and clamped adjustably in placethereon by clamping plates 50 seated against the under sides of theprojecting ends of the late .49:

and detachably fastened thereto by Its 51, the said clamping platesextending inwardly and bearing against the under sides of edge flanges52 on the beam.

The supporting frame 38 sliding on the guide plate 41'and tied to thetractor beam by the link 48 connected with the beam and frame byuniversal joints, permits the trac-. tor and binder frame to moverelatively to each other both vertically, horizontally and sidewise inthe travel of the machine over uneven ground, and in the adjustments ofthe binder frame relatively to'the tractor.

'without bringing any strain to bear on the connecting rods between thecontrolling levers and the mechanism of the tractor, While at the sametime the link 48 preserves the same distance between the tractor andcontrolling levers irrespective of the changing relations and distancebetween the binder frame and tractor. The connecting rods 34. 35 and36*and the extension of the operating shaft '5 are guided and sup-.portedbetween their ends in the long stretch etween the tractor andcontrolling levers. by means of a vertical guide plate 52 fixed to theupper end of an arm extending upwardly from and fixed to the link 48 andprovided with holes through which the-rods and shaft loosely extend. Theconnecting tractor aresuch that the binder and tractor may be speedilyand readily disconnected from each other and the binder connected ininoperative osition to the tractor for transportation. en so connectedthe driver controls the tractor from a seat on the tractor as shown inFigs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the supporting frame 38 for the controllinglevers, being transferred from the binder frame to the beam 1 of thetractor, and a special connecting frame being provided for attaching thegrain platform of the binder to the tractor truck.

e In making this change for.the transportation of the binder, the sidedraft bars 26 are disconnected at their rear ends from the binder frame,likewise the rear end of the stub tongue 23; and the lower ends of thelsoonnected from the forward plate 38 of the supporting frame 38 carring the control levers, is now unbolted from the bracket plate 39 andthe frame 381emoved and transferred to the beam 1 in which it is seatedand clamped firmly in position by the clamping plates 50 before alludedto. The rear ends of the forward portions ofabhe connecting rods 3 1*,etc., are connected with the respective control levers and the handwheel 37 applied to the rear end of the shaft'5. The parts will nowappear as shown in Fig. 8. The binder frame being now free from thetractor. it is turned around so that the grain end of the platform willbe next the tractor. The opposite end of the binder is elevated to liftthe bull wheel off the ground, and the two transport wheels 60 (Fig. 8)are applied as usual to support the frame at this end. The grain end ofthe platform is now attached to the tractor by means of a specialsupporting and connecting member shown more par ticularly in Figs. 9 and10, and comprising an open rectangular frame 61 preferably formed ofangle iron and consisting of side bars 61 and 61 and end'bars 61 and olwhich bars are connected fixedly together at their ends to form aunitary frame structure. This connecting frame is of a form to extendbeneath the end of the platform and to be connected therewith in suchposition as to project horizontally beyond the same and surround thegrain wheel X as shown in Fig. 10. To adapt the connecting frame to bereadily and speedily attached to the platform frame and to be detachedtherefrom, a rearwardly extending arm 62 is fixed to the frame bars 61and 61 and is adapted, when the connecting frame is in position toextend in a hole 63 in a cross bar 64 on the platform frame, by whichmeans the rear end of the connecting frame is supported. The two sidebars 51? and 61* near their forward ends have fixed to them lugs 65which bear against the rear side of a transverse bar 66 fixed to theplatform frame, and forward of these lugs the said side bars havelatches 67 pivoted to them so that they may be swung laterally and enaged over the upper side of the bar 66. ocking pins 68 being providedand being insertable in registering holes in the latches and side barsto hold the latches in locking position. By this means the frame 61 issupported at its front and is prevented from relative endwise movement.At one side the platform frame has fixed to it a lug 69 which extendsdownwardly at the outer edge of the side bar 61 of the frame 61 andhorizontally beneath the same, by which means. the connecting frame isprevented from side movement and supported at this point. I i

In applying the connecting frame and attaching it to the platform frame,the latter is first elevated to lift the grain wheel off the ground. Theconnecting frame is then thrust 'endwise beneath the wheel. and the arm62 entered in the hole 63, whereupon the frame is elevated at its frontand engaged with the under side of the cross bar 66, with the lugs 65hearing against the rear side of the bar, the frame bar 61 being at thesame time engaged over the horizontal end of the lug 69. The latches 67are now swung laterall so as to engage the bar 66 and are loc-ke inposition by the locking pins before alluded to. The connecting frame isnow in place ready for connection with the tractor. This is accomplishedby means of a pin 70 which is passed through registering holes in a lug71 swiveled to the frame bar 61 of the connecting frame, and in twoplates 72 extending rearwardly from the rear end of the stub tongue 23of the tractor truck and receiving the lug between them. The stub tongueis then raised to a horizontal position and locked in such position tohold the platform elevated, by means of a bolt 73 (Fi 9) which is passedthrough registering holes 74 in the two rear vertical frame bars 2 ofthe truck and through a hole in the tongue. The binder is now fullyconnected with the tractor in operative position for transportation, andthe driveiuoccupies a seat 75 (Figs. 8 and 9) sustained by the truckbetween the same and the adjacent end of the platform. This seat iscarried by a seat spring 76 which is detachably interloclged with thetruck frame so that it. may be applied when the binder is to beconnected for transportation. and may be detached when the binder isconnected for operation. The spring rests near its forward end upon ahorizontal bracket plate 7? (Fig. 9} and extends between the two rearbars and the truck frame and between two pins 78 projecting upwardlyfrom the plate 7?, and forward of this plate the spring engages againstthe under edges of the two rear cross plates 9 before alluded t in whichposition it is held by a clampii'ig hook "T9 fastened to the extremityof the spring and engaging over one of the upper bars of the truckframe.

order to limit the lateral rockin motions of the power unit relativelyto the supporting truck about the fore and axes of the supporting pins9. I apply to the upper horizontal bars 2 of the supporting truck, abracket o0 provided with oppositely projecting horizontal stop arms 81which are normally spaced some distance from the under side of the beam1, but which are adapted to engaged by said beam in the event of theundue lateral rocking of the same and thus limit said motion.

It will be observed that by reason of the form and construction of thedraft; connections between the truck and implement, which connectionsare pivoted at their foramazes w ends on the horizontal pivotbolt 24 andat their rear ends on the horizontal ali ed axes 25 and 27, theimplement will trail behind the truck and will be capable of a movementup and down about the axis 24 relative to the truck, whereby the truckand implement will accommodate themselves to the unevenness in thesurface of the ground, and whereby the weight of the powerunit and truckwill be prevented' from being imposed on the implement. Also it will beobserved that due to the connection of the'adju'sting lever 28 with thestub tongue 23, this tongue may be adjusted up and down relative to thetruck, which action will correspondingly adjust the implement up anddown, and thereby raise and lower the forward rtion carrying the cutterbar, the said imp ement in its different adjustments being alwayscapableof an up and down movement relative to the tractor.

Due to the form and construction of the connections between theimplement and the truck, the implement may be very readily and speedilyattached and detached therefrom in order to enable it to be drawn inoperative position for operation in the field,

or to enable it to be drawn in inoperative,

application, Serial No. 245,410, filed July While in. the accompanyingdrawings and foregoing description, I have set forth my invention in therticular detailed form and construction w ich I prefer to adopt, it willbe understood that these details may be variouslv changed and modifiedwithout departin from the limits of the invention; and furt er it willbe understood that the invention is not limited to any particular formor construction of .the parts, except in so far as such limtiations arespecified 1n the claims. I

Having thus described my I claim is:

1. The combination of a tractor, an implement detachably connectedthereto to trail behind the tractor in operative; position, a driversseaton the implement, means for controlling the tractor from the driversseat when the implement is connected in operative position, meansassociated with the implement for connecting it in inoperative positionto the tractor,a drivers seat detachably connected with the tractor,saidtractor controlling means being operable from said detachable seat whenthe latter is attached to the tractor.

2- The combination of a tractor, a draft devihe connected thereto andmovable in a substantially vertical plane, an implement connected tothedraft device, 'said implement having mechanism associatedthereinvention, what with so that it may be disconnected from the draftdevice and reconnected in inoperative position for transportation, andmeans for holding the draft device against movement in a vertical planewhen the implement is contransportation purposes, and means for holdingthe draft device against vertical movement when the binder is connectedin transport position.

4. The combination with a two-wheel tractor of a binder having a cutterbar, means for tilting the binder to adjust the height of the cutterbar, means connecting the binder and tractor for stabilizing them andfor transmitting the draft of the tractor to the binder, said meanspermitting the binder to be tilted when the binder is connected inoperative position, means associated with the binder for connecting itin transport position, and mechanism associated with the draft means forconverting the binder is in operative position, it may be tilted to varythe height of the cutter bar and at the same time be free to move abouta horizontal transverse axis in all its adjusted positions, and meansfor converting the draft mechanism into a rigid draft connection forullingthe binder and stabilizingit when t 1e binder is connected intransport in position.

6. The combination with a tractor of a. binder havinga cutter bar, meansfor tilting the binder to varythe height of the cutter bar, a draftconnection between the tractor and binder pivoted to swing about asubstantially vertical axis to the binder to move about a transversehorizontal axis, said draft connection including two members pivotedtogether on a substantially transverse horizontal axis so that thebinder may be tilted, and means associated with aid draft connection toconvert it intoa rigid draft connection for use in stabilizing andpulling the binder when the binder is connected in transport position. M

7. The combination with a two wheel tractor of the unstable type of abinder having a cutter bar, means for tilting the binder to adjust theheight of the cutter bar, a sta. ltilizing truck connected to thetractor, a draft tongue pivoted at its forward end to the stabilizingtruck and at its rear end to a second tongue member connected to thehinder, means on the binder connected to one of the tongue members forvarying their position to vary the height of the cutter bar, and meansfor connecting said draft tongue rigidly to the stabilizing truck, totransform it into a rigid draft connection for pulling and stabilizingthe binder when the same is connected in transport position.

amazes 8. The combination with a tractor of the unstable'type of abinder having a cutter bar, a stabilizing truck pivoted to the tractorto swing about a, substantially longitudinal, horizontal axis, and meansconnecting the truck and binder permitting the latter, while inoperative position, to be adjusted to vary the height of the cutter barand to adjust itself relative to the tractor about a transverse,horizontal axis, said means also acting as a rigid draft connection forthe binder when in transport position.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature hereto.

ISAAC TROLLEY.

